Why isn't it Kan-saw and ar-Can-suss? Don't they share a border?

My grandfather in Colorado called the river through Pueblo the ArKANSAS River.

He was raised in Kansas.

Everyone else I know calls it the ArkanSAW River.

Perfect @Call_Me_Jay!
Exactly the question!

My husband’s hackles raise ever time he hears someone say Illi-noise.

It’s “Arkansaw” and “Kansuss.” They both border Missouri, abut they don’t share a border.

When I first moved to this area, it would always grab my attention when the nearby town of Lake Orion is referred to as Lake ORE- ree -on (like the cookies).

Whatever happened to the constellation of Orion’s Belt as an example of how to pronounce Orion? Oh-RYE-on

And of course then there is Mackinac Island, it’s bridge and it’s fudge, each inexplicably pronounced Mackinaw. Go figure.

And just for fun, I’ll toss in Bala Cynwyd, Penna. but it comes by its weirdness honestly due to its Welsh origins.

The Kansans I know are emphatic about calling it the arKANSAS river, and will not only cringe at the sound of the “saw”, but chastise you on the spot. At first I thought I was being teased, but it has happened enough now that I take the issue as authentic.

Meh, @Seek. You live here, you get used to it. Noy or Noise. Misery or Miz-zura.

I always get a kick out of Karo – Cairo @Buttonstc.

I’ve never heard that before, @stanleybmanly.

There is a fun one from where I’m from:

In New York City, you know someone is a tourist if they ask for directions to “HYOOS-ton” street. Houston street is pronounced “HOUSE-ton”

Where I live now, you get off at the Bearss exit to Lutz (Bearss = bears with a long s, Lutz = LOOTZ), So when the people on the news say BEERss and Luhtz, it’s a bit eye-twitching.

We have what’s called ‘geachie ’ where I’m from. Or maybe ‘gullah’ is closer.Line street is ‘lion’ street. Trot line is ‘trout line.’ Bream are ‘Brim.’ Really sunfish…...
‘News peppa.’
‘Yunt-to.’
‘Sausage =Sau-chutz. Biscuit = bis-cut. Shrimp = scrump. Fish =fush. Over yonder means ‘over there. ’
I could go on, and on. No English here in the South.

And the states are in no hurry to improve this.

A couple that stood out for me were waRshing and Renching clothes. Go warsh up. Rench that off! No idea if it was family thing or came from an area.

@si3tech – Ugh, my stepfamily does that. I think it’s using up all the “Rs” people from Boston, New York, and Jersey drop off of their words.

@Seek Love that! Using up all the “Rs” people from Boston, New York and Jersey drop off in their words. Too funny!

Worshingtun D.C. @si3tech.

@ibstubro Yep! You got it!

I once asked someone where he was from and he said what sounded to me like Nork, New Jersey. He was surprised when I told him I never heard of the place. After a while, I finally figured out that he was talking about Newark. I am guessing that most residents slur the name of that city the way that people talk about living in Norleans, Louisiana or Lou-uh-ville, Kentucky.

@LostInParadise Can y’all say N’yaaalins?

@Seek “My husband’s hackles raise ever time he hears someone say Illi-noise.”

They’re allowed if they’re referring to a Sufjan Stevens album. ;)

Then there’s Nor-fuck (or Naw-fuck), Virginia.